US to unveil Gaza governance plan,15 Palestinian technocrats to manage enclave

The United States is expected to announce on Wednesday the next phase of its plan for Gaza, including the creation of a temporary Palestinian-led body to administer the territory, according to The Wall Street Journal.

US officials told the newspaper that the Trump administration believes conditions are now in place to shift from conflict management to governance and reconstruction, following a fragile cease-fire and the return by Hamas of all but one deceased 'Israeli' captives. The move marks what Washington describes as Phase Two of a broader 20-point Gaza blueprint.

15 Palestinian technocrats to manage

Under the plan, a newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will assume day-to-day governance of the enclave. The committee is expected to consist of 15 Palestinian technocrats tasked with managing essential services such as sanitation, utilities and education, the Journal reported.

Nickolay Mladenov, a former UN Middle East envoy and ex-Bulgarian foreign minister, is set to be named as the high representative overseeing implementation of the plan. According to the Wall Street Journal, he will serve as the main link between the Palestinian committee and a US-led Board of Peace chaired by President Donald Trump.

The Board of Peace, expected to include around a dozen members, will provide strategic direction on Gaza’s future. Trump has said the board would include “the most important leaders of the most important nations,” though its full membership has not yet been disclosed.

Skepticism in the Region

Despite the announcement, the plan faces skepticism from regional officials, particularly over Hamas’s future role. Hamas, which the US designates as a terrorist organization, has not detailed how or when it would disarm under the cease-fire terms brokered by Trump last October.

According to the Journal, US officials acknowledge that the plan’s success depends heavily on Hamas laying down its weapons and relinquishing control of Gaza, conditions that remain uncertain.

Former US ambassador to 'Israel' Dan Shapiro told the Wall Street Journal that Hamas has proven more resilient than expected, warning that the group could emerge weakened but still in power.

“That would start the clock ticking toward a next round of conflict,” Shapiro said.

International Force Still Unclear

The administration has yet to announce which countries will participate in an International Stabilization Force (ISF) intended to help maintain order in Gaza. US officials told the Journal that details, including the size of the force, will be released later.

Indonesia and Morocco have committed troops, but many prospective contributors have stressed they do not want their forces tasked with forcibly disarming Hamas, a complication that has slowed the formation of the force.

'Israeli' and Palestinian Positions

'Israel' has said the plan cannot advance beyond the initial cease-fire phase until the body of Ran Gvili, an 'Israeli' police officer killed on October 7, 2023 events, is returned.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that international forces, rather than the Palestinian Authority, should govern Gaza. His government opposes both a Palestinian state and the PA taking control of the enclave, according to the Journal.

Hamas said on Sunday that it would dissolve its existing Gaza government once the Palestinian technocratic committee is established, though questions remain over whether it would fully cede power.

The long-term goal of the US plan, officials told The Wall Street Journal, is to transform Gaza from post-war devastation into a stable territory and eventually redevelop it into a regional economic hub, a vision spearheaded by Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

However, analysts caution that without Hamas’s disarmament and sustained international commitment, lasting peace and effective governance in Gaza remain far from assured.